As Xiaolong led Yang back to his car, he thought about the things he'd need to do to prepare for her present and future needs. He decided to up front about what his plans were going to be.
"The first thing we need to do is pick up your parents. They need to know their daughter is the Avatar, and you'll all need a place to live and a place for them to work," Xiaolong said.
"I…don't have any parents," Yang said, sadly. "They disappeared a long time ago." She placed her free hand on her blue scarf and continued. "I've been alone for as long as I can remember, and all I have of them is this scarf my mom gave to me before they vanished."
Xiaolong sighed. This child, this 8-year-old little girl was completely alone in this world. She'd been fighting to survive for spirits know how long by herself. The world was not kind to homeless children, and it was even worse in the winter; at least in the other seasons, she didn't need to worry about freezing to death, only finding safe to eat food, clean water and protecting herself from criminals and police alike. It was no wonder she was afraid of him when he initially approached.
"Well, you've got someone to look after you now," Xiaolong said before quickly changing the subject. "What about your shelter? Is there anything you want to take with you? Items that have sentimental value?"
Yang's eyes widened. "PAKA!"
"What's 'Paka'?" Xiaolong asked.
"My Fire Ferret! I found him in a storm drain last winter! He was starving and freezing, and I nursed him back to health! He's helped me find food and clothes ever since!" Yang shouted.
"Then we'll get him on our way home," Xiaolong said, releasing Yang's hand. "Just lead the way."
A few minutes later, they were back at the alley that Xiaolong found Yang, and she immediately started searching for the animal.
"Paka! Come here!" Yang shouted, and a mangy looking Fire Ferret emerged from a rock A-frame shelter that Yang had no doubt constructed. The animal was sickly looking, dirty, with fur missing in places. It was extremely gaunt, with barely any fat on its body. And when this creature saw Xiaolong, it started growling and hissing.
"It's okay, Paka," Yang said, putting her hands out for her pet to climb into. "Mr. Xiaolong wants to help us. He says I'm the Avatar, and is going to take us in."
Paka cautiously climbed into Yang's hands and onto her shoulder, still glaring at Xiaolong, ready to bite the moment he felt threatened.
"I'm sorry, Paka's…protective," Yang said. "He doesn't want me to get hurt."
"I can't blame him," Xiaolong said, not daring to take Yang's hand again until he'd gained Paka's trust. "I DID scare you when we first met."
Yang nodded, but smiled at Xiaolong, glad he understood. "So, what now?"
"Now, we get you two something to eat," Xiaolong said, leading the two to his car. "There's a great sandwich shop down the road from my house. I think you'll love it."
A few minutes later, Xiaolong stopped in front of a deli; The Peaceful Koi Deli. It was run by a woman from the Southern Water Tribe, and it took Water Tribe cuisine and added a United Republic twist.
"Xiaolong! Who's the Water Tribe girl?" the proprietor, Pekkonas, asked.
"She's a homeless child I'm taking in," Xiaolong said, smiling sadly. "Her name is Yang."
"Yang, huh?" Pekkonas said. "Well, let me cook you up something that's a taste of home."
"Act-actually, I'm…not from the Water Tribes…. I'm from here," Yang said, meekly.
Pekkonas just frowned. "Then you've never had Water Tribe cooking? Well, you're in for a treat." She said, smiling at the younger girl. She looked over at Xiaolong and continued. "What about you? Your usual?"
"Yes, that'd be fine," Xiaolong said.
"Can she make something for Paka too?" Yang asked.
"Paka?" Pekkonas asked.
"Her Fire Ferret," Xiaolong said.
Pekkonas thought for a moment before having an epiphany. "Yeah, I suppose I could do something that's safe for Paka." She looked at Xiaolong. "Have a seat, your order will be done shortly."
Xialong led Yang to his favorite booth, and after sitting, Yang spoke up. "So, what are we getting?"
"Well, she's making me this wonderful Halibut sandwich," Xiaolong said, practically drooling over the thought of his meal. "Grilled to perfection using Water Tribe techniques and seasoned using spices from the Fire Nation, it's a treat for the taste buds. And with just about everything she does, she serves it with potato fries seasoned with Earth Confederacy spices."
"Wow," Yang said, not really understanding the appeal of any of this; she was so used to eating out of dumpsters or cooking anything she fished or trapped that flavor wasn't really a priority.
"As for you," Xiaolong said. "Probably some fish and chips. She uses a simple batter to fry the fish in, though she still properly seasons the fish before frying. That IS the appeal of this deli, after all."
"What about Paka?" Yang asked.
Xiaolong thought for a moment before answering; what WAS safe for an animal to eat here? "I don't know. She'll probably grill up a fish for him. I'm not sure she knows what kind of spices would be safe for a Fire Ferret to eat."
Yang nodded and then sat quietly until Pekkonas brought out a tray with the suspected items; Xiaolong's sandwich, some fried fish, two orders of potato fries and what appeared to be sliced fish for Paka.
Xiaolong picked up his sandwich as Yang placed the smaller plate in front of Paka and watched him dig in before picking up her fish and taking a bit. And as Xiaolong bit into his sandwich, he watched as Yang's eyes widened with joy; if she'd ever eaten fried fish before, it was probably never hot or properly seasoned. The young girl was doing her best not to start shoveling the food into her mouth, as she likely knew that too much food on such an empty stomach could make her throw up.
Eventually, the three had finished their food, and Xiaolong paid for their meal. And eventually, they made their way to Xiaolong's house just outside the city, a three-story house in the suburbs. It was simple in Xiaolong's eyes; a simple house with a yard filled with native trees and plants, but to Yang, it was unlike anything she'd ever seen. She'd never seen so many plants before. She'd seen parks, true, but this was an entirely different level.
"Yenzing, are you home?" Xiaolong said as he opened the door.
"Yes, Mr. Xiaolong," the man, Yenzing, said. "I'm just finishing up watering the house plants."
"That's fine," Xiaolong said, taking his shoes off. "I have someone I want you to meet."
"Of course," Yenzing said, coming toward the entrance. He was dressed simply, as if he was hired for work rather than presentation.
"This is Yang, a homeless girl I'm taking in," Xiaolong said, motioning for Yang to come forward from the door. "Yang, this is Yenzing, my butler."
"It's nice to meet you, Yang," Yenzing said, bowing slightly to the young girl.
"H-hi," Yang said, hesitantly. Paka, sensing Yang's discomfort, hissed.
"And that is Paka. He's very protective of Yang, so give him some space for now," Xiaolong said, taking off his coat and putting it in the closet. "Could you show Yang to the guest room? That's going to be her bedroom from now on."
"Of course," Yenzing said, motioning for Yang to follow him, daring not to touch her as long as the Fire Ferret was on her shoulder.
"And draw her a bath as well," Xiaolong said. "I'm certain she and Paka would enjoy a hot bath on a cold day."
Yenzing nodded, and Xiaolong headed into the living room to watch television. An hour and a half later, Yenzing entered the room with a report on how Yang was doing, as well as a bottle of craft beer.
"I've taken the liberty of giving her one of your sweatshirts to wear to bed. I assume you're going to take her shopping tomorrow?" Yenzing said.
"Yes, I want to make sure she's got everything she needs," Xiaolong said, taking the bottle and sipping it.
Yenzing nodded. "I've also given the girl a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, some milk and cookies as well. She devoured them before settling into bed for the night."
Xiaolong nodded, glad that Yang had such an appetite. This would help her greatly as she worked toward getting healthy enough for her future journey. "Good. Was there anything else?"
"Just that it was very kind of you to take her in," Yenzing said, though he knew that his boss wasn't going to benefit from this in the future.
"Not as kind as either of us would like to think," Xiaolong said, turning toward his friend and confidant. "Yang's the Avatar."
"The Avatar?" Yenzing said, taken aback. "Really?"
"Yes. I saw her bending all four elements before entering the Avatar State to protect herself," Xiaolong said. "She's going to need a lot of help before she's ready to do to be the Avatar she needs to be."
Yenzing stood there for a moment, thinking about their collective future. Raising the Avatar? Protecting her until she was ready for her journey? These were the most important things in the world right now. "Then we have a hard road ahead of us." He said.
"That we do," Xiaolong said, leaning back into his chair. "That we do."